Marriott Communications is pleased to announce that our Founder and Chief Executive, Samuel Marriott-Dowding, has been shortlisted for PR, Marketing & Media Professional of the Year at Insider Media’s North East Young Professionals Awards 2026.
The recognition reflects Samuel’s contribution to the communications industry, his work building Marriott Communications and the development of our independent firm with increasingly ambitious strategic and international aspirations.
Since founding the business, Samuel has led its evolution from an independent PR consultancy into a strategic communications and advisory firm, working with organisations across the public, private and third sectors.
That evolution reflects a broader ambition: to build a firm recognised for the quality of its thinking, the strength of its relationships and the value of its advice to organisations navigating complex commercial, political and reputational environments.
Commenting on the shortlisting, Samuel said:
“Building Marriott Communications has been an important professional journey, but it has never been solely about establishing a business. It has been about developing a clear point of view on the role communications and strategic counsel can play in helping organisations navigate complexity, build influence and achieve their ambitions.
Over the past year, we have been particularly focused on the next stage of the firm's development: strengthening our advisory capabilities, broadening our relationships and building the foundations for a more international outlook.
Recognition of this kind is encouraging, but the real measure of progress is the quality of the work we do, the trust our clients place in us and the contribution we make to the organisations we support. I'm proud of what we have built and excited by what comes next.”
The shortlisting adds to a period of professional and organisational recognition for Samuel and Marriott Communications, as our firm continues to develop its position within the UK strategic communications and advisory market.